BROWSE

Tim Russert Obituary

WASHINGTON (AP) - Tim Russert, who pointedly but politely questioned hundreds of the powerful and influential as one of America's most prominent U.S television journalists, died of a heart attack Friday in the midst of a presidential campaign he had covered with trademark intensity.

Praise poured in from the biggest names in politics, some recalling their own meltdown moments on his hot seat.

Russert, 58, was a political operative before he was a journalist. He joined NBC a quarter century ago and ended up as the longest-tenured host of the influential Sunday political talk show "Meet the Press."

He was an election-night fixture, with his whiteboard and scribbled figures, and was moderator for numerous political debates. He wrote two best-selling books, including the much-loved "Big Russ and Me" about his relationship with his father. He was NBC's Washington bureau chief.

President George W. Bush, informed of Russert's death while at dinner in Paris, saluted him as "a tough and hardworking newsman. He was always well-informed and thorough in his interviews. And he was as gregarious off the set as he was prepared on it."

NBC interrupted its regular programming with news of Russert's death and continued for several hours of coverage without commercial break. The network announced that Tom Brokaw, the former long-time anchor of NBC's nightly newscast, would anchor a special edition of "Meet the Press" on Sunday, dedicated to Russert.

Competitors and friends jumped in with superlative praise and sad recognition of the loss of a key voice during a historic presidential election year. Known as a family man as well, he had been named Father of the Year by parenting organizations.

Bob Schieffer, Russert's competitor on CBS' "Face the Nation," said the two men delighted in scooping each other.

"When you slipped one past ol' Russert," he said, "you felt as though you had hit a home run off the best pitcher in the league. I just loved Tim and I will miss him more than I can say."

NBC said Friday evening that Russert died of a heart attack. Russert's internist, Michael A. Newman, said cholesterol plaque had ruptured in an artery, causing sudden coronary thrombosis.

Newman said an autopsy showed that Russert had an enlarged heart, NBC reported. Russert had been diagnosed with asymptomatic coronary artery disease, which he was controlling with medication and exercise, the doctor said.

Russert, of Buffalo, New York, took the helm of the Sunday news show in December 1991 and turned it into the most widely watched program of its type in the United States. His signature trait was an unrelenting style of questioning that made some politicians reluctant to appear, yet confident that they could claim extra credibility if they survived his grilling intact.

"I can say from experience that joining Tim on "Meet the Press" was one of the greatest tests any public official could face," said Rep. John Boehner, the highest-ranking Republican in the House of Representatives. "Regardless of party affiliation, he demanded that you be straight with him and with the American people who were watching."

Russert was also a senior vice president at NBC, and this year Time magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world.

He had Buffalo's blue-collar roots, a Jesuit education, a law degree and a Democratic pedigree that came from his turn as an aide to the late Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan of New York.

Lawmakers from both parties lined up to sing his praises after his sudden death.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Democrat, said Russert was "the best in the business at keeping his interview subjects honest."

Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona, Obama's rival for the White House, hailed Russert as the "pre-eminent journalist of his generation."

Carl P. Leubsdorf, president of the Gridiron Club, an organization of journalists, said, "It was a measure of the degree to which Tim Russert was respected in the journalistic world that he was the first broadcaster elected to membership in the Gridiron Club after the rules were changed in 2004 to end our century-old restriction to print journalists."

Said longtime colleague Brokaw, the former NBC anchor: "He'll be missed as he was loved - greatly."

The network said on its Web site that Russert had been recording voiceovers for this Sunday's "Meet The Press" when he was stricken.

He had dozens of honorary college degrees, and numerous professional awards.

He won an Emmy for his role in the coverage of President Ronald Reagan's funeral in 2004.

He was married to Maureen Orth, a writer for Vanity Fair magazine. The couple had one son, Luke.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Tim Russert, who pointedly but politely questioned hundreds of the powerful and influential as one of America's most prominent U.S television journalists, died of a heart attack Friday in the midst of a presidential campaign he had covered with trademark intensity.

Praise poured in from the biggest names in politics, some recalling their own meltdown moments on his hot seat.

Russert, 58, was a political operative before he was a journalist. He joined NBC a quarter century ago and ended up as the longest-tenured host of the influential Sunday political talk show "Meet the Press."

He was an election-night fixture, with his whiteboard and scribbled figures, and was moderator for numerous political debates. He wrote two best-selling books, including the much-loved "Big Russ and Me" about his relationship with his father. He was NBC's Washington bureau chief.

President George W. Bush, informed of Russert's death while at dinner in Paris, saluted him as "a tough and hardworking newsman. He was always well-informed and thorough in his interviews. And he was as gregarious off the set as he was prepared on it."

NBC interrupted its regular programming with news of Russert's death and continued for several hours of coverage without commercial break. The network announced that Tom Brokaw, the former long-time anchor of NBC's nightly newscast, would anchor a special edition of "Meet the Press" on Sunday, dedicated to Russert.

Competitors and friends jumped in with superlative praise and sad recognition of the loss of a key voice during a historic presidential election year. Known as a family man as well, he had been named Father of the Year by parenting organizations.

Bob Schieffer, Russert's competitor on CBS' "Face the Nation," said the two men delighted in scooping each other.

"When you slipped one past ol' Russert," he said, "you felt as though you had hit a home run off the best pitcher in the league. I just loved Tim and I will miss him more than I can say."

NBC said Friday evening that Russert died of a heart attack. Russert's internist, Michael A. Newman, said cholesterol plaque had ruptured in an artery, causing sudden coronary thrombosis.

Newman said an autopsy showed that Russert had an enlarged heart, NBC reported. Russert had been diagnosed with asymptomatic coronary artery disease, which he was controlling with medication and exercise, the doctor said.

Russert, of Buffalo, New York, took the helm of the Sunday news show in December 1991 and turned it into the most widely watched program of its type in the United States. His signature trait was an unrelenting style of questioning that made some politicians reluctant to appear, yet confident that they could claim extra credibility if they survived his grilling intact.

"I can say from experience that joining Tim on "Meet the Press" was one of the greatest tests any public official could face," said Rep. John Boehner, the highest-ranking Republican in the House of Representatives. "Regardless of party affiliation, he demanded that you be straight with him and with the American people who were watching."

Russert was also a senior vice president at NBC, and this year Time magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world.

He had Buffalo's blue-collar roots, a Jesuit education, a law degree and a Democratic pedigree that came from his turn as an aide to the late Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan of New York.

Lawmakers from both parties lined up to sing his praises after his sudden death.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Democrat, said Russert was "the best in the business at keeping his interview subjects honest."

Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona, Obama's rival for the White House, hailed Russert as the "pre-eminent journalist of his generation."

Carl P. Leubsdorf, president of the Gridiron Club, an organization of journalists, said, "It was a measure of the degree to which Tim Russert was respected in the journalistic world that he was the first broadcaster elected to membership in the Gridiron Club after the rules were changed in 2004 to end our century-old restriction to print journalists."

Said longtime colleague Brokaw, the former NBC anchor: "He'll be missed as he was loved - greatly."

The network said on its Web site that Russert had been recording voiceovers for this Sunday's "Meet The Press" when he was stricken.

He had dozens of honorary college degrees, and numerous professional awards.

He won an Emmy for his role in the coverage of President Ronald Reagan's funeral in 2004.

He was married to Maureen Orth, a writer for Vanity Fair magazine. The couple had one son, Luke.

Guest Book Highlights

"on this 70th anniversary of meet the press, they show many photos of you, and I realize how much you still are missed. as a 75 year old, I have watched many monitors and you are still my favorite."- LINDA RYAN (SALEM, OR)

"Here it is 2017. I still miss you! To top it all off, we lost Gwen Ifill before the last election. Why are we losing the best of the best?"- Diane Richardson (Kernersville, NC)

"THE WORLD MISSES YOU, ITS JUST NOT THE SAME WITHOUT YOU. THE BEST REPORTER/JOURNALIST EVER!!"- Valenda Newell (Indianapolis, IN)

"Thank you for sharing a part of your life with us. Godspeed."- Harry Simpson (Buckeye, AZ)

Other obituaries

Tim Russert, the host of "Meet the Press," and NBC's Washington bureau chief, has died. He was 58.
Read Obituary

Published in Charlotte Observer from June 13 to June 18, 2008

Tim Russert, host of NBC's "Meet the Press" and its Washington bureau chief collapsed and died at work Friday after suffering an apparent heart attack. He was 58
Longtime NBC anchor Tom Brokaw...
Read Obituary

Published online on June 17, 2008 courtesy of Buffalo News.

RUSSERT - Timothy J.
May 7, 1950 June 13, 2008
Funeral services for Tim Russert will be televised on MSNBC Wednesday at 4:00 PM. As a service to the Russert family and our community, we will...
Read Obituary

russert - Timothy J.
The New York State Bar Association mourns the passing of Tim Russert, who was first and foremost, a journalist but also a lawyer who did not forget his roots.
A...
Read Obituary

Published in the Miami Herald from June 13 to June 18, 2008

Tim Russert, who pointedly but politely questioned hundreds of the powerful and influential as moderator of NBC's "Meet the Press," died Friday of an apparent heart attack. The network's Washington...
Read Obituary

Published in The New York Times on June 15, 2008

RUSSERT--Tim. The Board of Governors, Trustees, staff and young people of Boys & Girls Clubs of America wish to express our profound sorrow over the sudden passing of Tim Russert. As a longtime...
Read Obituary

Published in The New York Times on June 16, 2008

RUSSERT--Tim. The Jewish Community Relations Council of NY mourns the loss of a giant of journalism and a distinguished alumnus of our Israel missions program. May his family and colleagues be...
Read Obituary

Published in The New York Times on June 17, 2008

RUSSERT--Tim. PBS and its member stations mourn the death of Tim Russert. As an energetic analyst and superb political journalist, Mr. Russert kept all of his competitors on their toes--including...
Read Obituary

Published in The New York Times on June 17, 2008

RUSSERT--Tim. The Board of Governors, Trustees, staff and young people of Boys & Girls Clubs of America wish to express our profound sorrow over the sudden passing of Tim Russert. As a longtime...
Read Obituary

Published in The New York Times on June 18, 2008

RUSSERT--Timothy J. The Paul Robert Carey Foundation offers heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Timothy J. Russert, the 2003 recipient of the Shining Spirit Award for Excellence in...
Read Obituary

Published in The New York Times on June 19, 2008

RUSSERT--Tim. The New York State Bar Association mourns the passing of Tim Russert, who was first and foremost a journalist but also a lawyer who did not forget his roots. A Buffalo native and law...
Read Obituary

Published in Newsday from June 13 to September 18, 2008

Timothy Russert was the NBC's Meet the Press and NBC News' Washington Bureau Chief. He was a frequent correspondent and guest on NBC's The Today Show and Hardball. He co-hosted the network's...
Read Obituary

WASHINGTON -- Tim Russert, who pointedly but politely questioned hundreds of the powerful and influential as moderator of NBC's "Meet the Press," died suddenly Friday while preparing for his weekly...
Read Obituary